Hybrid Vehicle Power Unit Layout for Weight Balance and Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing vehicle driving apparatus in hybrid vehicles suffers from weight imbalance and reduced motion performance due to the placement of a heavy engine at the end of the vehicle drive system, leading to instability and decreased handling capabilities.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle driving apparatus is configured with a drive motor, an internal combustion engine, and an electrical generator arranged in a specific order along the vehicle width direction, with the internal combustion engine positioned between the drive motor and the electrical generator to balance weight and reduce inertia moments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the internal combustion engine is arranged at the end portion of the vehicle drive system, then the engine can be accommodated in the available space, but the weight balance between left and right of the vehicle deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from arranging components along the vehicle's front-rear axis to arranging them along the vehicle width direction. Specifically, the drive motor, internal combustion engine, and electrical generator are positioned side-by-side from the vehicle's left to right, which redistributes weight laterally to achieve better balance while maintaining compact packaging.
2Volume of stationary object
If the internal combustion engine is arranged in the vicinity of the side surface of the vehicle, then the engine can be accommodated in the motor room, but the inertia moments around yaw and roll axes become large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the heavy internal combustion engine at the center of the vehicle width rather than at the outer edge. This localized placement strategy concentrates mass near the vehicle's longitudinal centerline, reducing the lateral distance from the rotation axes and thereby minimizing inertia moments while still effectively utilizing the motor room space.
3Ease of manufacture
If the internal combustion engine is arranged at the end portion of the vehicle drive system, then the existing layout can be maintained, but the motion performance of the vehicle lowers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement logic by placing the drive motor at the outer side (vehicle left or right) rather than at the center, and positioning the internal combustion engine and electrical generator toward the center. This inverted configuration reduces inertia moments and improves motion performance while maintaining straightforward assembly procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle driving apparatus is provided that includes a drive motor, an internal combustion engine, and an electrical generator and can inhibit a weight balance and motion performance of a vehicle from being deteriorated and lowered. A vehicle driving apparatus driving a vehicle by motive power of a motor, the vehicle driving apparatus including a drive motor that is driven by electric power, an internal combustion engine that produces motive power by fuel, and an electrical generator that is driven by the internal combustion engine, the vehicle driving apparatus being characterized in that the drive motor, the internal combustion engine, and the electrical generator are arranged in a vehicle width direction of the vehicle in order of the drive motor, the internal combustion engine, and the electrical generator.